Semen Cuscutae herb

Semen Cuscutae, or Cuscuta seed, is used in China for kidney deficiency and impotence. Semen Cuscutae has a high content of flavonoids and has strong antioxidant properties. Semen Cuscutae has been found in studies to have positive effects on sperm health and motility, and invigorates the reproductive system. One study shows it has liver protective benefits. Semen cuscutae is often seen in Chinese aphrodisiac herbal preparations.

Semen Cuscutae Research Update
Protective effects of Cuscutae semen against dimethylnitrosamine-induced acute liver injury in Sprague-Dawley rats.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2007 Aug;30(8):1427-31. Department of Anatomy, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, 130-701 Seoul, Republic of Korea.
We investigated the protective effect of Cuscutae semen on acute liver injury induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Cuscutae semen is an important traditional herbal medicine widely used as a tonic and aphrodisiac to nourish the liver and kidney and to treat impotence and seminal emission. Rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of DMN (40 mg/kg), and were then treated with Cuscutae semen daily by oral gavage for 4 d. Liver injury caused by DMN-injection was significantly inhibited in the Cuscutae semen -treated group compared to the silymarin-treated group. The results of blood biological assay were significantly protected by Cuscutae semen in serum total protein, T-bilirubin, D-bilirubin, GOT, GPT, and ALP. Cuscutae semen exhibited an in vivo hepatoprotective effect and anti-fibrogenic effects against DMN-induced acute liver injury and inhibited the formation of hydroxyproline, which suggests that Cuscutae semen may be useful in preventing fibrogenesis after liver injury.

Semen Cuscutae effect on reproductive organs
Effects of flavonoids from Semen Cuscutae on the reproductive system in male rats.
Asian J Androl. 2000 Jun;2(2):99-102.
Qin DN, She BR, She YC, Wang JH. Department of Physiology, Shantou University School of Medicine, China. lqchen@mailserv.stu.edu.cn
To evaluate the effects of the flavonoids extracted from the Semen Cuscutae on the reproductive and endocrine functions in male rats. (1) Flavonoids from Semen Cuscutae were obtained from the semen of Cuscuta sinensis Lam through solvent extraction and polyamide columnar chromatography; (2) Effect of Semen Cuscutae on the reproductive organs was assessed in immature rats. Rats were administered Semen Cuscutae through gastric gavage at a dose of 300 mg/kg per day for 7 days and the weights of testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and pituitary gland were then observed; (3) To observe the effect of FSC on the reproductive endocrine function: same dose level of Semen Cuscutae was given to male rats of different age groups for 7 days; on day 8, the plasma testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and LH were determined by RIA, the specific binding of LH was estimated and the testes were weighed. (4) Effect of Semen Cuscutae on LH secretion was assessed in vitro on cultured adenohypophysis. (5) Effect of Semen Cuscutae on T secretion was assessed in vitro on Leydig cell culture. Flavonoids from Semen Cuscutae increased the weights of testis, epididymis and pituitary gland, and stimulated T and LH secretion both in vitro and in immature rats. Semen Cuscutae invigorates the reproductive system and reproductive endocrine function in male rats.

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